legal issues

Diby · 09-13-2005, 04:00 AM

Why is it that a parent can force a child to go to church, and how do you feel about that

stevemb88 · 09-13-2005, 05:22 AM

I didn't know that a parent could do it but it is bad

, it forces kids into a narrow minded view of religion and i would think that it wouldn't be healthy for that kid, im just glad that my parents didn't do that to me, because now beening older i have now formed my own opinions of certain denominations and churches.

Bandit · 09-13-2005, 08:56 AM

i am glad my parents took me to church. 4 times a week.

then again, it was not a narrow minded church so i learned a lot about the bible & life that i would never have gotten else where.

Bandit · 09-13-2005, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diby

Why is it that a parent can force a child to go to church, and how do you feel about that

what would you like them to do? get a baby sitter every time they go to church?

Thomas · 09-13-2005, 11:39 AM

Why is it that parents can force their kids to go to the dentist.

How d'you feel about that?

seattlegal · 09-13-2005, 12:24 PM

Parents carry the ultimate responsibility for raising their children, and should therefore have the authority to do so. Holding someone responsible for accomplishing a task, while taking away their authority to execute the actions necessary to accomplish that task, is a sure way to create large amounts of stress, and make sure that task will not be accomplished. If you take away parental authority, children will not get raised, and family stresses will increase. JMHO.

Awaiting_the_fifth · 09-13-2005, 12:35 PM

I think that parents certainly should give their children spiritual guidance, and in the case of Christians this would almost certainly mean taking children to church, but I also think it is important to teach children how to make up their own minds and decide for themselves.

I was 13 when I told my Catholic parents that I no longer believed in God and I did not want to go to Church (and it took some courage, believe me!). My mother laughed at me and they continued dragging me to Church every Sunday morning for another two years. That didnt help anyone.

Faithfulservant · 09-13-2005, 05:33 PM

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" Proverbs 22:6.

I believe parents are responsible for their childrens spirituality.. I also believe that if we fail to do so we are held accountable before God.

My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways" Proverbs 23:26.

I believe that we must pray for our children to have that relationship with God.. we must pray that they are lovers of the truth. I pray this for my children.

Awaiting_the_fifth · 09-13-2005, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faithfulservant

I believe parents are responsible for their childrens spirituality.. I also believe that if we fail to do so we are held accountable before God.

Faithfulservant,

I wonder would you agree with me that if a child decides to follow a different path his/her parents should accept and support that decision?

Faithfulservant · 09-13-2005, 10:22 PM

loving the child despite their decisions yes.. supporting their decisions.. no. God loves us despite our decisions.. does He support each one that we make? I doubt it. The love I have for my children is unconditional and it would pain me greatly if they were to veer from the path that I have tried my best to raise them in. I would accept it and allow them to follow the path that they are on and pray daily that they hear the voice of God and return to His side. Do I have to support it? No. I wouldnt support my daughter turning to prostitution but I would love her regardless.. I wouldnt support my son if he was dealing drugs but would I love him regardless? yes. You may think the examples are extreme.. they are not much different to me.

I, Brian · 09-13-2005, 11:57 PM

Indeed, parents can teach, guide, influence positively as best they can or are able - but parents cannot control their children forever.

A parent who thinks *any* decision is right or wrong can only act on that, but always being a parent is a struggle of holding on and letting go, and at some point, no matter a parent's own perspective, we have to let go regardless, hoping that we have helped show our children how to make those decisions of right and wrong themselves.

As is often said, a parent doesn't have to love their child's choices, but that doesn't mean to not love the child.

littlemissattitude · 09-18-2005, 08:14 AM

I think it is completely wrong for parents to force a child to go to church. Unlike something like going to the dentist (the example someone gave above) or going to school, spiritual matters are very personal and should not be forced on anyone, even a child.

This is not to say that children should not be exposed to spiritual experiences, or that parents don't have a right to express to their children what they believe. But children should not be propagandized, such as being told that one way of believing is "right" or "true" and that other ways of believing are "evil" or "wrong", or dragged to a particular church against their will. Things like what one believes and what religious insitution they may wish to participate in is for each individual to decide when they are of an age that they can make an informed decision.

Bandit · 09-18-2005, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlemissattitude

I think it is completely wrong for parents to force a child to go to church. Unlike something like going to the dentist (the example someone gave above) or going to school, spiritual matters are very personal and should not be forced on anyone, even a child.

This is not to say that children should not be exposed to spiritual experiences, or that parents don't have a right to express to their children what they believe. But children should not be propagandized, such as being told that one way of believing is "right" or "true" and that other ways of believing are "evil" or "wrong", or dragged to a particular church against their will. Things like what one believes and what religious insitution they may wish to participate in is for each individual to decide when they are of an age that they can make an informed decision.

yah when they are of age to make that decision. but until then... this does not seem to be about being of age but rather a child under the authority of there parents, which seems to be anyone under 17 is still considered a minor & parents are responsible for them. no intelligent parent is going to force there child to go to church after a certain age, no more than they can stop them from dropping out of school at age 16.

what age do you consider a child not a child?

so, without spiritual guidance from the parents church.....oh just forget it
i respect your opinion but i am glad you were not my parent. i like the JFK story. TAKE ME TO CHURCH MOM!

Faithfulservant · 09-18-2005, 05:42 PM

Sorry God.. that people think you are a form of propoganda and that people think dentists are more important than you are. I agree with Bandit.. thanks mom for making sure my soul doesnt have cavities.

littlemissattitude · 09-18-2005, 07:20 PM

You know, I don't mean to be argumentative, but I firmly believe that God wants people - including children - in church because they want to be there, not because someone is forcing them to be there. Certainly, you don't think we should go back to the bad old days, such as in some of the American colonies before independence, when the civil authorities enforced chruch attendance. I also don't believe that you have to be "in church" in order to know about and worship God.

Virtually all of the people I know personally who were forced to go to church as children, including my own mother, now choose not to go to church at all. I would say, therefore, that being forced to go had a negative rather than a positive effect.

And I did not say that God is a form of propaganda. I said that I don't think it is right for people - parents or anyone else - to tell anyone else, including children, that one concept of God is "right" and all the others are "wrong". That is something each individual has to get to personally. So, I will thank you to not twist my words to fit your agenda.